Home Linguistics & Semiotics 9. The bare NP in Lesser Antillean
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

9. The bare NP in Lesser Antillean

  • Karl Gadelii
View more publications by John Benjamins Publishing Company
To Publisher Page
Noun Phrases in Creole Languages
This chapter is in the book Noun Phrases in Creole Languages

Abstract

This paper examines the structure and behavior of noun phrases in Lesser Antillean French Creoles. It is argued that bare NPs have an indefinite plural reading when appearing in isolation, but that [Indef, Sg], [Def, PL] and [Def, Sg] readings are possible in case a noun phrase with the relevant properties has been previously introduced in the discourse. Lesser Antillean thus displays sensitivity to discourse anaphora in a way that French, the superstrate language in question, does not. When definiteness and number are spelled out in the Lesser Antillean noun phrase, this is done by means of independent particles, leading to a syntax that is superficially more complex than that of an agglutinative/flexional language like French. Post-nominal determiners are shown to be derived via XP-movement, not head movement. Certain contrasts between Guadeloupean and Martinican are shown to be due to different endpoints of the moved XP.

Abstract

This paper examines the structure and behavior of noun phrases in Lesser Antillean French Creoles. It is argued that bare NPs have an indefinite plural reading when appearing in isolation, but that [Indef, Sg], [Def, PL] and [Def, Sg] readings are possible in case a noun phrase with the relevant properties has been previously introduced in the discourse. Lesser Antillean thus displays sensitivity to discourse anaphora in a way that French, the superstrate language in question, does not. When definiteness and number are spelled out in the Lesser Antillean noun phrase, this is done by means of independent particles, leading to a syntax that is superficially more complex than that of an agglutinative/flexional language like French. Post-nominal determiners are shown to be derived via XP-movement, not head movement. Certain contrasts between Guadeloupean and Martinican are shown to be due to different endpoints of the moved XP.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgment ix
  4. Part I: An introduction
  5. 1. Noun phrases in creole languages 3
  6. Part II: Portuguese-lexified Creoles
  7. 2. Bare nouns and the nominal domain in Santome 37
  8. 3. On the syntax and semantics of DP in Cape Verdean Creole 61
  9. 4. Papiamentu and Brazilian Portuguese 107
  10. 5. On the interpretation of bare noun phrases in Guinea-Bissau Portuguese Creole (Kriyol) 145
  11. Part III: Spanish-lexified Creoles
  12. 6. Some aspects of NPs in Mindanao Chabacano 173
  13. 7. Bare nouns in Palenquero 205
  14. Part IV: French-lexified Creoles
  15. 8. Bare nouns in Réunionnais Creole 225
  16. 9. The bare NP in Lesser Antillean 243
  17. 10. Bare NPs and deficient DPs in Haitian Creole and French 265
  18. Part V: A comparison of romance Creoles
  19. 11. Implicit determination and plural 301
  20. Part VI: English-lexified Creoles
  21. 12. Bare nouns and articles in Sranan 339
  22. 13. Aspects of the syntax and semantics of bare nouns in Jamaican Creole 383
  23. Part VII: African American English
  24. 14. NPs in aspectual Be constructions in African American English 403
  25. 15. Bare nouns in African American English (AAE) 421
  26. Part VIII: Dutch-lexified Creoles
  27. 16. Bare nouns in Berbice Dutch Creole 437
  28. Part IX: A Synthesis and a postface
  29. 17. Properties of noun phrases in creole languages 461
  30. 18. Functional deficiency, ellipsis or innovation in creole languages? 471
  31. Index 485
https://doi.org/10.1075/cll.31.14gad

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgment ix
  4. Part I: An introduction
  5. 1. Noun phrases in creole languages 3
  6. Part II: Portuguese-lexified Creoles
  7. 2. Bare nouns and the nominal domain in Santome 37
  8. 3. On the syntax and semantics of DP in Cape Verdean Creole 61
  9. 4. Papiamentu and Brazilian Portuguese 107
  10. 5. On the interpretation of bare noun phrases in Guinea-Bissau Portuguese Creole (Kriyol) 145
  11. Part III: Spanish-lexified Creoles
  12. 6. Some aspects of NPs in Mindanao Chabacano 173
  13. 7. Bare nouns in Palenquero 205
  14. Part IV: French-lexified Creoles
  15. 8. Bare nouns in Réunionnais Creole 225
  16. 9. The bare NP in Lesser Antillean 243
  17. 10. Bare NPs and deficient DPs in Haitian Creole and French 265
  18. Part V: A comparison of romance Creoles
  19. 11. Implicit determination and plural 301
  20. Part VI: English-lexified Creoles
  21. 12. Bare nouns and articles in Sranan 339
  22. 13. Aspects of the syntax and semantics of bare nouns in Jamaican Creole 383
  23. Part VII: African American English
  24. 14. NPs in aspectual Be constructions in African American English 403
  25. 15. Bare nouns in African American English (AAE) 421
  26. Part VIII: Dutch-lexified Creoles
  27. 16. Bare nouns in Berbice Dutch Creole 437
  28. Part IX: A Synthesis and a postface
  29. 17. Properties of noun phrases in creole languages 461
  30. 18. Functional deficiency, ellipsis or innovation in creole languages? 471
  31. Index 485
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 30.12.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/cll.31.14gad/html
Scroll to top button